The “festivals of lights”, Diwali, is one of the most important festivals celebrated all over India. Every year the season of autumn is marked by the festivities of Diwali across the Hindu community embracing the young and the old alike. Symbolising the triumph of good over evil, which is conveyed with the lighting of diyas, the festival of Diwali in India is the time for renewal of everything that is worn out. Cleaning and decoration of homes are integral to the celebrations of Diwali, which need to be completed before the celebrations of Diwali begin. Wearing new clothes is also another part of the Diwali celebrations.

Diwali in Other Parts of the globe

Although Diwali is a major festival in India, the day being an official day all around the nation, Diwali is celebrated also in other parts of the world. Diwali celebrations in other parts of the world outside India include the celebrations in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Guyana, Fiji, Suriname, Pakistan, Netherlands, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago.

Diwali in other parts of the world comprise of the festive celebrations in the nations, where the Hindus, Sikhs and Jains cover a considerable part of the total population. People all around the world are becoming more and more interested in the cultural traditions of India and Indian people also are increasingly moving out of their native land for settling down in other parts of the world. As such celebrations of Diwali in other parts of the world are also gaining popularity as evident by the growing number of the nations that are celebrating Diwali. Diwali celebrations in other parts of the world is not only involving people belonging to the Indian Hindu community but is bringing in societies together.

In Malaysia Diwali is a public holiday across the entire monarchy and the customs associated with Diwali are quite similar to those practiced in India during this festive occasion. In Malaysia the Hindu community gathers for open houses and celebrates it with full enthusiasm with the people from other communities. In Nepal “Swanti” and “Tihar” are the names attributed to Diwali, the festival being marked by the offerings made to the crows and dogs, Nepal Sambat and the worshipping of goddess Laxmi. Long processions, Ma Puja and Bhai Tika are the other celebrations, which are associated with Diwali in Nepal. Celebrations of Diwali in other parts of the world like Singapore involve the Hindu community of Tamil Nadu. Diwali in other parts of world outside Asia also is celebrated as a public holiday in some countries, the festivities being more or less alike to a great extent.